Rumor: Rockstar New England lays off staff

Word has it that Rockstar New England‘s staff just became the newest members of the Laid Off Club. Kotaku reports that several of their sources have now confirmed that the entire QA department was shut down, along with some other artists and staffers from other departments.

Word has it that Rockstar New England‘s staff just became the newest members of the Laid Off Club. Kotaku reports that several of their sources have now confirmed that the entire QA department was shut down, along with some other artists and staffers from other departments.

“At least 10 percent of the studio” was made redundant. What being redundant means, in labor terms, is that there are more people than there are actual jobs, so some people end up doing work that is not really necessary for them anymore, thereby only adding up to the cost of the company, and can be considered as unnecessary expense.

The good thing though is that Rockstar has been reported to provide a “fairly generous” severance package, and is in fact even helping some of its employees to find new jobs.

Rockstar New England is actually the former Mad Doc Software before Rockstar acquired them in 2008. The company has yet to send out an official statement on the matter.

• EGM to resume publications this year
• Microsoft lays off 28%, not 75% of workforce
• THQ selling off BIg Huge Games, turning two other studios into independent companies

Via Kotaku